. Luo

By CHILA NAMAIKO –
OVER 200 men in Choma District have been circumcised in the last two weeks with Chief Singani calling for concerted efforts in fighting harmful cultural and traditional practices that promote HIV/AIDS.
Chief Singani said more men should accept Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a measure in fighting Sexually Transmitted Infections and cervical cancer among women.
He said at the launch of national VMMC in his chiefdom at the weekend that the circumcision of 200 men in Choma was conducted by Society for Family Health.
“Let us continue supporting this programme in combating HIV/AIDS as well as a means of protecting our women against cervical cancer,” Chief Singani said.
He said Choma residents were willing to work with Government and various stakeholders to fight diseases that were robbing communities of productive people especially youths.
He urged other chiefs to promote male circumcision in their areas by working closely with communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other related diseases.
Earlier, Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo said Government was grateful with the role chiefs were playing in the governance system of the country.
Professor Luo said Zambia’s economic and social development could be undermined if chiefs were not engaged in the country’s governance systems.
She said HIV/AIDS was both a development and an economic issue that affect the welfare of the country hence the need for chiefs to support Government in fighting diseases.